Articles tagged with Water Resources
Researchers have developed a new method to measure the duration and severity of hydrological droughts in streams and rivers, which can persist for up to 3.5 years after drought conditions end. The study found that baseflow droughts are strongly tied to groundwater levels and can impact water management and ecosystem services.
Researchers predict a shift from drying to wetting in the Himalayan region due to reduced anthropogenic aerosol emissions, with climate model simulations suggesting increased precipitation throughout High Mountain Asia by the 2040s. This change is primarily driven by human-induced factors, rather than natural variability.
Researchers at Shibaura Institute of Technology developed a cellulose-based thickener to reduce environmental risks associated with liquefied stabilized soil. The thickener prevents bleeding, loss of fine particles, and unwanted settling, while maintaining soil strength.
A team of researchers from Japan found that water enhances energy dispersion and reduces elastic moduli in rocks, leading to increased seismic wave attenuation. The study suggests the oceanic asthenosphere must contain water, explaining sharp velocity drops and near-constant attenuation observed at the LAB.
A new study analyzes challenges in sustainably meeting different hydrogen demand scenarios on a country-by-country basis. The research finds that less than half of projected 2050 demand for hydrogen fuel could be produced locally using wind or solar power due to land and water scarcity.
A recent study found that social factors are a stronger influence on water-quality violations than median household income. The study's social vulnerability index captured three times as much of the population affected by water-quality issues as median income did.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a method that collects and purifies water from fog simultaneously, rendering it safe for use in densely populated urban centers. The technology uses a close-mesh lattice coated with polymers and titanium dioxide to break down organic pollutants.
New research found that plant water use efficiency has stalled since 2001 due to climate change, contradicting earlier hopes it would help improve water consumption. The study's findings suggest that rising temperatures and atmospheric CO2 may be undermining nature-based methods to achieve carbon neutrality.
A new computer model quantifies the black market for drinking water in Jordan, revealing that 91% of traded water is extracted illegally. The study predicts a significant increase in household dependence on private water suppliers due to decreasing public water supply infrastructure.
Eric Quaempts, Tribal member and Department of Natural Resources Director at Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, has been recognized for his work on First Foods management approach. He received the 2023 ESA Regional Policy Award for integrating tribal ecological approaches into natural resource management.
A new study from the University of Missouri found that poverty, low health literacy, cultural beliefs, lack of infrastructure, and political issues hinder diabetes self-management for Haitian migrants. The researchers suggest targeted interventions, such as community gardens and healthcare education through local priests.
A recent study projects an increase in surface water pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa, posing significant risks to human populations and ecosystem health. The region is expected to become the dominant hotspot of surface water pollution, with potentially catastrophic consequences for communities.
Researchers developed models to schedule flow releases from a California reservoir, finding that pulse flows could benefit salmon while maximizing electricity generation. The study identified optimal flow regimes that aligned economic and salmon objectives during early summer, but diverged in mid-winter.
Researchers developed a compact and efficient single-photon Raman lidar system that can detect oil spills in the ocean. The system uses just 1μJ of pulse energy and can be operated up to 1km underwater, making it suitable for monitoring leaks in underwater oil pipelines.
University of Missouri researchers developed a method using thermal induction heating to rapidly break down PFAS on the surface of granular activated carbon and anion exchange resins. The process achieved 98% degradation in just 20 seconds, offering a highly energy-efficient alternative to conventional methods.
A new computer model forecasts yield for four key crops in the southeastern US, drawing on climate, groundwater, and agricultural data. The tool helps farmers and water resource managers identify ways to maximize crop yields while efficiently utilizing water and energy.
The study assesses and quantifies safety and justice for humanity on Earth, finding that numerous boundaries are already transgressed. The results conclude that a just approach is essential to planetary stability, and setting targets can prevent significant harm.
Current measures to protect grasslands in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are damaging the ecosystem and should be stopped. Small burrowing mammals, like the plateau pika and zokor, play crucial ecological roles in maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity.
A deep learning-based Transformer model, Bloomformer-1, has been developed to identify the driving factors of algal growth in the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The results reveal that total phosphorus is the most significant factor affecting algal growth, especially in the Henan section, while total nitrog...
A new assessment by University of Colorado at Boulder researchers reveals that over 50% of the world's largest lakes are losing water. The study found that climate change and unsustainable human consumption are major contributors to this decline, with many lakes in dry and wet regions experiencing significant losses.
Researchers developed algorithms to analyze acoustic signals from fire hydrant-mounted hydrophones, pinpointing leaks in aging water distribution networks. This technology supports water conservation efforts, especially in the Western US where leaks are a significant issue.
A team of researchers from Peking University found that temperature-dependent rock thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity affect the long-term thermal performance of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The study showed that increased thermal conductivity improves thermal conduction, while decreased specific heat capacity impair...
Researchers developed a suite of tools to assess economic benefits of improving urban stream water quality. The 'ecological production function framework' estimates use and non-use benefits, including increased property values and protected natural resources.
A new study reveals that Indigenous groups in the western US are struggling to turn their legal right to water into actual water use, despite having settled their water-rights claims. The findings show that tribes are likely using only a fraction of their entitled water rights, resulting in significant revenue losses.
A new study suggests that large animals are disadvantaged due to their limited traveling speeds, which can be attributed to their inability to effectively dissipate excess heat generated by their muscles. This limitation leads to slower travel speeds compared to medium-sized animals.
Researchers develop 'Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production' (HANNP) metric to accurately estimate human impacts on the earth's systems. This new approach starts at the source, measuring the total biomass produced through photosynthesis and comparing it to what humans have appropriated for their own use.
A new Dartmouth study examines how changes in precipitation and temperature due to global warming affect streamflow and flooding in the Northeast. The research finds that a warmer climate will lead to increased streamflow and higher flood risk, particularly if soils become wetter and more prone to heavy rainfall events.
A UC Riverside-led study finds nearly half of domestic well water users in the Central Valley live in disadvantaged communities with high manganese contamination rates. The highest concentrations are found in private, untreated well water systems, posing health risks to fetuses and children.
A new study reveals that lake-terminating glaciers in the Himalaya have been significantly underestimated, leading to revised estimates of glacier mass loss. The research found a 6.5% underestimation, with some regions experiencing even greater discrepancies, highlighting critical implications for regional water resources.
The Tibetan Plateau's land surface darkening due to global warming affects regional and remote climates in Asia. The study predicts a 6.9% loss in glacier volume and increased monsoon precipitation over South Asia by the end of the century.
Researchers have found a new water reservoir on the Moon, discovered in impact glass beads, which can buffer the lunar surface water cycle. The study suggests that these beads can store and release solar wind-derived water, indicating their potential for in-situ resource utilization.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a cellulose-based material that can easily remove 80% of toxic dyes from wastewater using sunlight. The method is cost-effective, simple to set up, and could benefit countries with poor water treatment technologies.
A new framework developed by a multidisciplinary team provides guidance to local and regional planners to anticipate and prepare for the impacts of climate change on critical civic resources. The C-FEWS framework evaluates options and makes decisions related to specific local conditions, focusing on the nexus of food, energy, and water.
A recent review study led by UT Austin examines the planet's freshwater supplies and strategies for sustainably managing them. The study emphasizes the importance of recognizing surface water and groundwater as a single resource to ensure future water resilience.
The Nile River Delta faces significant environmental threats from heavy metal pollution and coastal erosion, impacting 60 million people in Egypt. The study highlights the need for conservation measures to slow degradation and recover the ecosystem.
Researchers found that young honey bees who followed dances of older bees improved their performance, reducing disordered dances and increasing orderly ones. Social signal learning refines behaviors for local conditions, suggesting it's advantageous for novice dancers to learn from experienced ones.
Researchers found that levee building and extracting subsurface resources are the main causes of land loss in the Mississippi River Delta, accounting for 40% each. The study suggests that reducing subsurface resource extraction may have slowed down land loss, offering a rosier outlook for restoration projects.
Researchers argue that Earth System Justice is necessary to identify and live within biophysical boundaries. The framework aims to reduce harm to people and nature while ensuring access to resources and minimizing tradeoffs.
Estuaries along the Atlantic coast and eastern Gulf of Mexico are expected to experience significant increases in nutrient loading, posing risks for harmful algal blooms and ecosystem health. The study identified regions with high adaptive capacity as having more resources to mitigate these effects.
Climate change is disrupting Pakistan's natural system, making it challenging to predict future changes. A recent study found that streamflow timing in the country's four major rivers will decrease significantly, with a range of -5 to -20 days in the near future.
Researchers argue that polders are an important part of China's water heritage, reflecting the country's long history of water management. Over 2,500 years, polders have evolved in response to changing societal needs, adapting to agricultural modernisation and urban encroachment.
River temperature is a critical measure of water quality, regulating physical, chemical, and biological processes in flowing waters. Rising temperatures are linked to climate change and human activities, impacting ecosystems, human health, and industries.
A new game theory study by Professor Claudius Gros finds that unregulated competition can lead to catastrophic poverty for investors, with profits scaling as 1/N². Cooperation among investors can avoid this damage, resulting in a net profit corresponding to the number of investors.
A new study analyzed state nutrient reduction strategies and found that initial energy and inclusive planning processes were key to success. Emphasizing local water body impacts was more motivating than distant goals, and addressing scale challenges is crucial for significant results.
A new UC Riverside-led study reveals that drought-tolerant trees in urban areas use significantly more water than their natural counterparts. The research found that even 'drought-tolerant' species like eucalyptus and ficus increase their water intake when irrigated.
A team of researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and other institutions has identified a flexible and user-friendly model for predicting flood frequency in a changing environment. The fractional polynomial-based regression method is more effective than existing models, which often fail to account for factors like climate ...
Lei Fang's NSF-funded project models interactions between active matter and transport barriers to improve understanding of ocean currents and drone technologies. The study uses a laboratory flow system with tiny zooplankton, brine shrimp, to examine the effect of their movement on transport barriers.
Researchers found that rusty center pivots indicate a lack of nitrate in the groundwater they feed. In fact, most wells supplying full-rust and part-rust pivots had nitrate concentrations below the EPA's safety threshold. However, some part-rust pivots showed higher nitrate levels, highlighting the need for further investigation.
Scientists have discovered a long-sought plant water loss-regulating sensor, composed of two proteins working together to regulate stomatal movements in response to changing CO2 concentrations. This finding has significant implications for trees, crops, and wildfires, as well as efficient plant water use and CO2 uptake.
Researchers found that red light is more efficient for growing plants while blue light is better suited for solar energy production. This breakthrough could guide global interest in agrivoltaics and identify potential applications for those systems.
Researchers propose new structures to capture and condense water vapor from above oceans, providing fresh water for large population centers in subtropical regions. The study assesses the feasibility of this method under climate change conditions.
Researchers from Politecnico di Milano investigated water's role in conflicts, focusing on socio-hydrological conditions and unequal resource use. The study provides a new methodological approach to understanding natural resource conflicts, with potential applications for creating more accurate representations of socio-ecological systems.
A regime shift in the Southeast Greenland marine ecosystem has led to a permanent change from an ice-infested to a more temperate system, with large numbers of fin and humpback whales migrating to the area. This tipping point may be irreversible, having cascading effects throughout the ecosystem.
A new study finds that achieving access to minimum resources and services for all while safeguarding the Earth system requires redistribution and societal transformations. The research shows that the wealthiest individuals and societies must undergo transformative change to mitigate climate impacts, while the poor are not the primary c...
A new study reveals huge gaps in data on how communities use mountain water sources, complicating efforts to model future scenarios. The researchers emphasize the need for improved data and process understanding to guide effective climate change adaptation.
A survey by Osaka Metropolitan University found that disaster emergency wells complemented the Kumamoto city government's emergency water supply, speeding up water delivery and improving access. However, some welfare facilities did not use emergency wells despite being nearby, highlighting the importance of publicizing their locations.
A KAUST-led team creates selective anode catalysts for stable and efficient hydrogen evolution in seawater splitting. The nanoreactors exhibited high electrocatalytic activity and stability due to their unique structure, isolating the electrolysis from side reactions.
A University of Maryland study found that stakeholders agree on the need for a decentralized approach to stormwater management but diverge on responsibility. Two groups believe stormwater poses a public threat, while the third sees it as an underutilized resource that can be managed with technology.
Research identifies Colorado River flow decline as main cause of Salton Sea's shrinking, leading to increased salt and chemical concentrations. The study highlights the need for a watershed-centric approach to mitigate the environmental risks and health impacts of the Salton Sea's decline.
New research suggests that droughts in England and Scotland led to a shortage of available water power, prompting the transition from water-based steam power. The findings contradict the prevailing narrative that water resources were exhausted or became too expensive.